WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2485, 14 June 1888, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Tjie usual monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held at the Council Chambers, Ohaupo, at 11 o'clock on Tuesday. There were present: Crs. Lang, (chairman), Taylor, Farrell, Finch, Dawson, Ridler, Smith and Hunter. Mr Armstrong, county engineer, was also in attendance. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence adopted.

Enoinkeb's Report.—Tho Engineer's monthly report was read as follows: —To the Chairman Waipa County Council.—Sir,—Referring first to Walker's Gully Bridge, I beg to report that no further movement has taken place ip this structure since my last ixispecindeed ior thq last three tiionths '' tHcrriTias been no appreciable difference in r 'tha Measurements, indicating;ihat for the preyent at least, the abutmettt haa come .to a bearing.-■•'ln;compliance with your instructions, I, have gone into the question of the cost of repairing, and also rebuilding this bridge, and beg to submit the following estimates for your information. Taking the f.uestiori'of repairing first. On making a c ireful examination of the bridge, I find that the whole of the timbers with the exception of Nos. 2 and 3 bays of piles are in a less or more decaying condition, and quite unfit for further service. Tho piles referred to, so far as I could ascertain, about-2 feet under water mark, the place at whieh they would bo most likely to show signs of decay, appear to be quite sound and fresh, they are kauri, and are the only parts of the present bridge that could again be allowed to be worked into re-consttuotion. Supposing the bridge to .bo re built on the present lines, I estimate 'the cost of the work at £230. Referring now to the question of a new bridge, and to your further instructions to raise the same 10ft. higher than the level of the present bridge. I roughly estimate the cost of this work, with the necessary approaches, at £050. Koromatua Bridge, on the Te Rore-Whatawhata Road, near Whatawhata: The sheeting of one of the wings at this bridge has given way, leaving a rather dawjerous gap m the side ot the road. This, ! have arranged to have repaired. The repairs, however, will not be of a very permanent character, as the bridge generally .is not iu a satisfactory condition, the sheeting and wings being in a very advanced stage of decay, and before very long will require a thorough overhaul, if not re-building. The bridge is rather high, and owing to this, and being situated in a deep gully, the cost of repairing or re-building will be considerably increased. The traffic on this part of the road is not very heavy, and the repairs that are being ' executed will last out the rest of the work.— Willoughby's bridge, on the HamiltonNewcastle road : I have to report that one of the piles in this bridge is so far decayed that it will have to be replaced. The sheeting and bracing is also done, and will require to be renewed at the same time. The bridge is 30 feet span, of the underbutted type, the thrust as well ns the bearing coming on the piles. .' I estimate the cost at £16, and recommend that it bedone at once. —The following contractu have been completed since Inst meeting of tho Council viz. : Contract No. 81, forming and gravelling Cambridge-Ohaupo road, near Howie's corner; contract No. 82, forming and gravelling near Mr Sturges, Ohaupo-Cam-bridge road ; contract No. 83, forming and gravelling portions of the Hamilton-New-castle road ; contract No. 88, forming portion of the Cambridge-Kihikihi road, near Rangiaohia ; contract No. 89, removing roots, Ac., and reinstating road through Kihikihi. bush. I recommend that the amounts due on the above be paid, as per vouchers handed in herewith. I recommend that an allowance ot £13 be made on contract No. 87, forming and gravelling near Mr Blackett's, Tuhikaramea. A number of small, but necessary repairs, have been carried out in various parts of the county during the month. The roads generally are in fair condition.— I am, Ac., Alex.. Armstrong, County Engineer. Kihikihi, June 11th, iBSB. The report was adopted. Walker's Gully Bridge.—Cr. Finch moved that this question stand over for the present.—Seconded by Cr. Ridler and carried.'

WiLLnuoiißY's Bridge.—The Engineer was instructed to have the repairs done according to his recommendation without delay. Rabbit Dogs.—Applications to register dogs at la per collar as rabbit dogs were received from Messrs J. C. Grierson, 2 dogs ; VV. Macky, 2 dogs ; R. J. Gibson, 2 dogs. Mr Grierson explained that at the time for registering rabbit dogs he was absent from the colony and so was not aware of the action of the Council. No reasons were given by the other applicants for not registering at the proper time. —Cr. Farrell moved that the application of Mr J. C. Grierson be granted, but that the other applicants bo referred to the notice as to day for registration.— Seconded by Cr. Ridler.—Cr, Finch mpved' as an amendment tliat >all the applications be granted.—Seconded by Cr. Dawson. On being put the amendment was lost on the casting' vote of the Chairman, and the original motion was carried.

Grant.—The Survey Office wrote cancelling the grant of £500 for the Hamilton swamp', as all the road grants in .the Auckland district had been expended. Letter received. Wages. D. McKinnon, of Cambridge West, applied for payment for five days' work for himself and a two-horse team.—The' Clerk was instructed to write to Mr McKinnon stating that neither the Council nor the Engineer know anything whatever about the claim. Rating.—The Karioi Road Board forwarded a petition, praying for the repeal of the present system of levying rates on the valuation, and suggesting the substitution of a rate on tho acreage on the unimproved value of the land. The cooperation of the Council was requested in bringing the matter before the House, but as the subject opened up was such a large one it was postponed till next meeting. Chamber ok Commerce.—The Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce applied for the annual subscription to the Chamber which is now due. It was decided not to continue the subscription.

Hosi'ital Contribution;— The Secretary to the Hospital Board, wrote asking for the payment of part of the contribution of £520 14s, due by the Council. It was decided to pay £200 at once.

Legal Expenses.—The Raglan County Council .wrote with reference to the claim made by this Council for legal expenses in connection with the action with the Auckland Hospital Board, that-as they were not in existence at the time the liability was incurred, they could not entertain the claim.

Dogs.—The number of dogs registered in the County up to the present as shown by the reports sent in by the various registrars is as follows and Newcastle ridings, 57 dogs; Tuhikaramca riding, 18 doj?s; ; Rangiaoliia riding, 21 dogs ; Mangapiko riding, 27 dogs ; Pukekura riding, 98 dogs. Furze.—Cr. Ridler drew the attention of the Council to the furze growing on the road from Messrs Graham, Hammond, and Rothwell's properties, on the Hamilton-Ohaupo road, and Crs. Dawson also stated that the furze was encroaching on the Whatawhata-Ngaruawahia road,' from Messrs Hunt's and Bycroft's properties. The Clerk instructed to write to these gentlemen, drawing their attention to the clause in the Act referring to the eradication of furze.

. Kates in Arrears.—lt was resolved that proceedings be at once taken to recover all rates in arrears, and the Clerk was instructed to summons at once all those whose rates are two years in arrears and to employ Mr Lewis O'Neil to act on behalf of the Council.

llouk ok Meeting.—Owing to the want of punctuality on the part of the Councillors to attend the meetings at 10 o'clock, Cr. Ridler moved that in future the meeting of the Council be held at 10.30 a.m., seconded by Cr. Farrell and carried.

Finance.—Crs. Lang, Dawson, and Taylor Were appointed a Finance Committee.

Payments.—The. following accounts were passed for paymentWaikato County Council, £23 7s 4d; Hadfield, 13s 6d; Kirk, £1 7s; Norriah, £6 ss; Higginson and Offerson, £15 17s; J. Gull and Co , £1 sa; Fawkes and I'oxaUi

6s 2d ; Leith, 7s 6d : McWilliams, f 1 17s 6d ; Sibley, £2 5s ; Cowley, £6 16s lOd ; McCallum, £13 4s; Reed, 19s 6d ; Waite, £15 Is 3d ; Daley, £1 5a 7d ; Given and Sons, £9 19s 4d; Crawford, £5; The Waikato Times, £3 6s 6d; sundries, £5 6s6d; This being all the business, the council rose.

Special Meeting.

A special meeting of the VVaipa County Council was held at the Council Chambers, Ohaupo, at noon on Tuesday, the members present being Crs. Lang, Hunter, Taylor, Finch, Farrell, Smith, Dawson and Ridler. The statement of accounts and balance-sheet for the year ending 31st March having been returned by the Auditor, certified to as correct, were . adopted. _ A letter was received from Mr 'lPitzgdrald, Audit' Inspector, calling the attention of the Council to the fact that they had incurred an overdraft exceeding the statutory limit under clause 211 of the Counties Act, and stating that he will be obliged to recover the penalties to which the councillors have rendered themselves personally liable under section '214 of the said Act, unless they can assign any reason why he should not do so. The clerk reported that, as he considered the matter an urgent one, he had replied, setting forth as reasons for the large overdraft: That when this Council came into office there was then a large overdraft, and also ,allowing the heavy demands made by the Hospital Board on the funds, and in conclusion pointed out the fact that the overdraft was now reduced to under £900. The action of the clerk was upheld.